This bill states that anyone arrested on a felony charge must submit their DNA to law enforcement after arraignment. This was upheld in the Supreme Court decision of Maryland v. King in 2013. The bill also states that if the alleged suspect is subsequently found innocent, then the DNA record will be expunged.

Defense attorneys say taking DNA tests upon arrest violates their defendants’ rights. Maryland v. King takes away this argument. There are currently 27 states that have a DNA bill in effect.

Taking DNA works. Susan Verstegen was raped and murdered in 1994. Her murder went unsolved for eight years until Rodrigio Hernandez, as a requirement for his parole from a Michigan prison, submitted a DNA sample that went into the national database and linked him to her death. DNA also tied Hernandez to a 1991 killing in Michigan.

Katie Sepich was raped and brutally murdered in 2003. DNA found on her body was matched to Gabriel Avila in 2006. He was subsequently convicted of her murder. Had his DNA been taken on his previous felonies, Katie Sepich’s life would have been spared.

There is no downside to this bill. Call or write your respective state senators and representatives to vote this onto law.